Officers and paramedics were called at 9.20am today after the gruesome discovery in Gedling Country Park, Notts.

The body, yet to be identified, was found by a man supporting his wife in a 5km run.

It was found in thin woodland just 50 yards from a path near the main car park.

Notts Police said the death remains unexplained, but is being investigated.

The organiser of the run said the "blue" body's left side of the face "looked injured", while its nails were black.

NOTTINGHAM POST/NEWSTEAM

PROBE: Three police cars cordoned off the scene

“He said he came across the body of a man while answering the call of nature in some thin woodland”

Lewis Scrimshaw, BBC Radio Nottingham

A runner said the body was found by a man there to support his wife while he was "answering the call of nature".

Lewis Scrimshaw, who works for BBC Radio Nottingham, added: "I spoke to a man whose wife had been doing the park run and he said he came across the body of a man while answering the call of nature in some thin woodland.

"He was speaking to my wife and I at the same time. He was a bit shaken and then went to talk to police."

Organiser Francis Rodriguez said: "They said that a man was lying down in the wooded area and that he wasn't moving.

"I went and couldn't find him at first but then we found him in where all the silver birch trees are planted.

"I called out to the person and there was no response.

"A nurse turned up and said that he did not look good because he was very blue and had black nails.

"He was lying face down and the left side of his face looked injured.

"It was horrifying and I was shaken up about it when I gave my statement to the police."

NOTTINGHAM POST/NEWSTEAM

DISCOVERY: Body was found in woodland

Mr Scrimshaw said dozens of runners would have ran near where the body was found earlier in the morning.

An ambulance and up to five police cars arrived as the last of the runners were finishing and a section of the park near the Spring Lane entrance in Lambley, Notts, remains cordoned off.

Terry Lock, from park conservation group Friends of Gedling Country Park, said: "I don't know how long the body's been there.

"We closed the park at half past five on Thursday so people couldn't get in after that point and I think by about sixish everyone was off site.

"It's a very tragic thing and we just don't know anything more about it at the moment."

A police spokesman said: "The death is currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation to identify the body and establish the circumstances surrounding the discovery has begun."